public healthNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94The latest podcasts and commentary from KMUW - Wichita 89.1 FM.NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94public healthWed, 14 Mar 2018 12:45:16 +0000public healthhttp://kmuw.org
Nadya FaulxAlmost a year old, Wichita’s bike share program has found success around the downtown area. Now, it's looking at where to go next.Bike Share ICT Looking To Expand Past Downtown Wichitahttp://kmuw.org/post/bike-share-ict-looking-expand-past-downtown-wichita
96135 as http://kmuw.orgThu, 01 Mar 2018 23:02:38 +0000Bike Share ICT Looking To Expand Past Downtown WichitaNadya FaulxThe Sedgwick County Department of Health is urging residents to get a flu shot if they haven’t already — because we’re not through the worst of the flu season.Flu Season Isn't Over — There's Still Time To Get A Vaccinehttp://kmuw.org/post/flu-season-isnt-over-theres-still-time-get-vaccine
95069 as http://kmuw.orgWed, 07 Feb 2018 23:13:28 +0000Flu Season Isn't Over — There's Still Time To Get A VaccineNadya FaulxWichita’s Mayflower Clinic has moved to a new downtown location.Mayflower Clinic Opens Doors At New Downtown Wichita Locationhttp://kmuw.org/post/mayflower-clinic-opens-doors-new-downtown-wichita-location
92415 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 11 Dec 2017 23:18:22 +0000Mayflower Clinic Opens Doors At New Downtown Wichita LocationNadya FaulxSedgwick County is offering free HIV testing on Friday for World AIDS Day. Conventional testing will be available at the county Division of Health on West Central from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-ins and appointments will be accepted. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reports that in 2016, there were more than 3100 people in Kansas, and about 800 in Sedgwick County, living with HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 15 percent of Americans who are living with the virus don’t know they are infected. The CDC recommends that anyone who is sexually active, shares needles or comes into contact with blood should get tested regularly. World AIDS Day is an annual opportunity for people to join the fight against HIV, show support for people living with the virus, and remember those who have died. -- Follow Nadya Faulx on Twitter @NadyaFaulx . To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org .Sedgwick County Offers Free HIV Testing For World AIDS Dayhttp://kmuw.org/post/sedgwick-county-offers-free-hiv-testing-world-aids-day
91918 as http://kmuw.orgThu, 30 Nov 2017 22:47:54 +0000Sedgwick County Offers Free HIV Testing For World AIDS DayNadya FaulxSedgwick County Commissioners on Wednesday voted to reinstate a position with the county health department to lead its Community Health Assessment process. The project manager will oversee a wide-ranging health survey that’s done every three years to help set the county's public health goals . The position was cut from the 2016 budget , then reinstated for 2017 , and, earlier this year, cut again . Commissioner Michael O’Donnell said he was "shortsighted" and "wrong" for voting to eliminate the position from the 2018 budget. “We have a moral obligation and an elected obligation to support our health department," he said. "Arguably, after public safety, public health is the most important thing that we do.” Next year's budget will now include the $46,000 salary for the project manager. Only Commissioner Richard Ranzau voted against reinstating the position, saying it promotes a progressive agenda. -- Follow Nadya Faulx on Twitter @NadyaFaulx . To contact KMUW News or to send in a newsCounty Reinstates Health Department Position Cut From 2018 Budgethttp://kmuw.org/post/county-reinstates-health-department-position-cut-2018-budget
91868 as http://kmuw.orgWed, 29 Nov 2017 23:20:39 +0000County Reinstates Health Department Position Cut From 2018 BudgetDan MargoliesTwo Kansas hospitals have been selected to take part in a federal demonstration program aimed at ensuring access to health care in underserved areas. The two, McPherson Hospital in McPherson and Morton County Health System in Elkhart, were among 13 nationwide chosen for the demonstration project being conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS. The program, which began in 2004 and has been extended twice for five-year periods, has 17 already-participating hospitals, including three in Kansas: Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott; Geary Community Hospital in Junction City; and Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital in Ulysses. The project aims to address the financial concerns of small rural hospitals by reimbursing them for the reasonable costs of their inpatient services. The hospitals must be located in a rural area, have fewer than 51 acute-care beds, provide 24-hour emergency services and be too large to be considered critical access hospitals, which are also eligible forTwo Kansas Hospitals Join Experiment Aimed At Bolstering Rural Health Carehttp://kmuw.org/post/two-kansas-hospitals-join-experiment-aimed-bolstering-rural-health-care
91588 as http://kmuw.orgThu, 23 Nov 2017 12:00:00 +0000Two Kansas Hospitals Join Experiment Aimed At Bolstering Rural Health CareNadya FaulxThe number of suicide deaths in Sedgwick County spiked last year, especially among young adults. There were 91 suicide deaths in 2016, up from 68 the year before, according to the latest report from the Sedgwick County Suicide Prevention Coalition . That’s a rate of 17.9 deaths per 100 thousand residents. “That's the highest rate on record since we started tracking these data 16 years ago," said Nicole Klaus, a psychologist at the KU School of Medicine and a member of the suicide prevention coalition who presented the report to Sedgwick County commissioners Wednesday. See the report here. Klaus says the suicide rate in Sedgwick County is “significantly higher” than national trends . The rate among young adults, ages 25 to 34, rose especially sharply -- up to about 35 per 100,000 -- but Klaus said they can’t pinpoint a particular reason why. “Over the time period that we’ve seen this increase, I wonder if economic issues have affected this age group in particular ways, but it’s kind ofReport: Suicide Rate In Sedgwick County Highest On Recordhttp://kmuw.org/post/report-suicide-rate-sedgwick-county-highest-record
88280 as http://kmuw.orgWed, 06 Sep 2017 21:57:18 +0000Report: Suicide Rate In Sedgwick County Highest On RecordNadya FaulxThe Sedgwick County Department of Health is offering vaccinations for kids heading back to school in the fall. Students can get state-required immunizations at the health department’s Main Clinic. Insurance, plus Medicaid and Medicare, are accepted, and vaccinations are available on a sliding fee scale for kids without coverage. The health department will also be providing childhood immunizations at this weekend’s Convoy of Hope event at Bethel Life Center and at McAdams Park. The “Day of Hope” helps prepare students going back to school by getting them free backpacks, shoes and school supplies. Required vaccinations for the 2017-18 school year are the same as they were last year. Vaccines help prevent the spread of diseases at schools and day care centers. The most recent KIDS COUNT report found that 81 percent of kindergartners in Sedgwick County are fully immunized, slightly higher than overall statewide numbers. -- Follow Nadya Faulx on Twitter @NadyaFaulx . To contact KMUW News orSedgwick County Providing Back-To-School Immunizationshttp://kmuw.org/post/sedgwick-county-providing-back-school-immunizations
86648 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 31 Jul 2017 21:21:14 +0000Sedgwick County Providing Back-To-School ImmunizationsAssociated PressKansas health officials have reported a confirmed case of measles in Butler County. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Butler County Health Department said in a joint news release Tuesday that a number of county health departments will be notifying all identified contacts. Staff will evaluate immunization status and ask about any possible symptoms among people exposed. Measles is highly contagious and is spread through the air by breathing, coughing or sneezing. Health officials say symptoms typically begin one to two weeks after exposure to an infected person. They include fever, blotchy skin rash, cough, runny nose and watery eyes. KDHE Secretary Susan Mosier says the best way to prevent measles is vaccination.Kansas Health Officials Report Confirmed Measles Casehttp://kmuw.org/post/kansas-health-officials-report-confirmed-measles-case
85538 as http://kmuw.orgWed, 05 Jul 2017 17:18:53 +0000Kansas Health Officials Report Confirmed Measles CaseAileen LeBlancTuesday is National HIV Testing Day, and clinics in Wichita are offering the tests to all adults for free. The Centers for Disease Control says that one in seven people who have HIV don't know it. There are an estimated 1.1 million people living with HIV in the U.S., and in Kansas, there are over 3000 living with the disease. All adults ages 13-64 are encouraged to get tested at least once, and those with higher risks should do so more often. HIV can be transferred through sexual activity and when sharing needles for injection. It cannot be passed on in food or water, on toilet seats or by insects. As part of National HIV Testing Day, free screenings in Wichita are being offered at the following locations: Hunter Health Clinic: Screenings will take place on June 27 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. It'll be held at the New Jerusalem Mission, located at 209 E Broadway Street, Newton, KS 67114. For more information contact Tabatha Miller or Paola Rajos at 316-262-2475 ext. 1112. PositiveSeveral Wichita Clinics Offering Free Screenings For National HIV Testing Dayhttp://kmuw.org/post/several-wichita-clinics-offering-free-screenings-national-hiv-testing-day
85110 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 26 Jun 2017 10:00:00 +0000Several Wichita Clinics Offering Free Screenings For National HIV Testing DayLaws restricting gun ownership and use are few and far between in Kansas, including laws that might keep children from stumbling upon a gun owned by an adult. From AP: Unlike about half the states in the U.S., Kansas lawmakers have shown little interest in enacting laws that would punish adults in cases where children are injured or killed after gaining access to unsecured weapons. The subject has not been debated in recent years in the Kansas Legislature, which has instead loosened several gun-related laws . The state has broad laws against child endangerment that make it a crime to "knowingly and unreasonably" cause or permit people younger than 18 to be situations "in which the child's life, body or health may be endangered," but it doesn't mention firearms. It is also illegal to give a child a firearm with a barrel of less than 12 inches, with exceptions for safety courses or school shooting competitions. The lack of debate comes as the state has recorded four deaths of childrenKansas Law Doesn't Address Children's Access To Firearmshttp://kmuw.org/post/kansas-law-doesnt-address-childrens-access-firearms
83745 as http://kmuw.orgWed, 24 May 2017 19:09:22 +0000Kansas Law Doesn't Address Children's Access To FirearmsNadya FaulxSedgwick County is in the bottom half of a new county health ranking from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.Sedgwick County Rises Slightly In Overall Kansas Health Rankinghttp://kmuw.org/post/sedgwick-county-rises-slightly-overall-kansas-health-ranking
81226 as http://kmuw.orgWed, 29 Mar 2017 22:11:39 +0000Sedgwick County Rises Slightly In Overall Kansas Health RankingNadya FaulxVia Christi is partnering with the city of Wichita to host a day of free health care services on April 8. The event will take place in Fairmount Park and will offer a number of services, such as medical care and testing; dental, vision, and hearing screenings; and foot care for diabetics. All care will be free, and is available for adults and children. Speaking at the mayor’s briefing Thursday, Peg Tichacek, Via Christi’s Chief Mission Integration Officer, said she has invited hundreds of health care professionals to volunteer. “We want every person that comes to be escorted, and to really have an experience where they feel very cared for, and we mobilize all the services we can," she said. Wichita State University, near the park, is also participating in the event. -- Follow Nadya Faulx on Twitter @NadyaFaulx . To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org .Via Christi, City Of Wichita To Offer Day Of Free Health Care Serviceshttp://kmuw.org/post/christi-city-wichita-offer-day-free-health-care-services
79749 as http://kmuw.orgThu, 23 Feb 2017 23:46:26 +0000Via Christi, City Of Wichita To Offer Day Of Free Health Care ServicesDeborah ShaarThe Sedgwick County commissioners reversed course on whether the county health department should provide travel immunizations. At their meeting on Wednesday, commissioners voted 3-2 to reinstate the program.Sedgwick Co. Health Department To Offer Travel Immunizations Againhttp://kmuw.org/post/sedgwick-co-health-department-offer-travel-immunizations-again
79067 as http://kmuw.orgWed, 08 Feb 2017 22:50:03 +0000Sedgwick Co. Health Department To Offer Travel Immunizations AgainDeborah ShaarThe Sedgwick County Commission approved funding and renewed its partnership with the Project Access health care program Wednesday. Project Access coordinates medical care and the supplies needed to treat people who are low-income or don’t have insurance. Doctors donate their time to treat eligible patients, hospitals donate the use of their facility, and thousands of dollars worth of medical equipment and prescription medicines are donated as needed during treatment. Sedgwick County partners with the City of Wichita and the United Way of the Plains to provide the majority of the program’s over $800,000 budget. Central Plains Health Care Partnership administers Project Access. This year, the commissioners agreed to provide $175,000 from the county, the same amount as last year. The vote was 5-0. Commissioner Jim Howell said he’d like to see the program’s fundraising efforts expanded. "It doesn’t change our commitment to Project Access in any way," Howell said. "I think it would be greatSedgwick Co. Commissioners Renew Agreement, Funding For Project Accesshttp://kmuw.org/post/sedgwick-co-commissioners-renew-agreement-funding-project-access
78170 as http://kmuw.orgWed, 18 Jan 2017 22:38:37 +0000Sedgwick Co. Commissioners Renew Agreement, Funding For Project AccessJim McLeanObamacare enrollment is up over last year across the country but not in Kansas. The deadline for selecting Obamacare coverage that kicks in at the start of the new year just passed. And so far, nearly 6.5 million Americans have selected marketplace plans – an increase of 400,000 over last year. But enrollment is down by more than 10,000 here in Kansas, where consumers have fewer coverage options to select from. About 73,000 Kansans have enrolled in Obamacare plans compared to nearly 85,000 at this time last year. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to repeal Obamacare. But both he and Republican congressional leaders have promised a transition period. Open enrollment for 2017 is set to end on Jan. 31.Obamacare Enrollment Up Nationally But Down In Kansashttp://kmuw.org/post/obamacare-enrollment-nationally-down-kansas
77108 as http://kmuw.orgThu, 22 Dec 2016 17:09:49 +0000Obamacare Enrollment Up Nationally But Down In KansasMeg WingerterKansas was the only state where the obesity rate went up significantly in 2015, according to an annual report, and state officials are trying to figure out why and how to reverse the trend. The state also lagged on vaccination rates and remained stuck in the middle on overall health, according to the America’s Health Rankings Report , which was released Thursday. Download the full report here. Kansas ranked 27th in the report, which rates the 50 states on a broad range of measures, including health behaviors, access to care, state policies and residents’ health outcomes. The state has hovered at 26th or 27th since 2013 . About 34 percent of Kansans, or one in three, were obese, according to the report. That echoes another annual report issued earlier this year by the Trust for America’s Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which also noted that Kansas also was one of only two states whose obesity rate increased significantly between 2014 and 2015 . Missouri didn’t fare muchKansas Stuck In The Middle In Overall Health Even As Obesity Rate Climbshttp://kmuw.org/post/kansas-stuck-middle-overall-health-even-obesity-rate-climbs
76884 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 16 Dec 2016 20:24:51 +0000Kansas Stuck In The Middle In Overall Health Even As Obesity Rate ClimbsDeborah ShaarPeople who live in Derby and the surrounding communities south of Wichita no longer have to drive to Wichita to receive emergency medical care. On Monday, Wesley Healthcare opened its new emergency department in Derby. Wesley opened the city’s first freestanding ER department, a state-of-the-art facility that cost $10 million. Construction took about eight months. Derby Mayor Randy White says the new Wesley ER will be an asset to the region. "I feel like this facility will not only serve Derby, but also Douglas and Rose Hill, Mulvane and some of the surrounding towns," White says. The ER is at the corner of 63rd Street South and Rock Road, an area of Derby that the city expects to see more development in the future. White says the city is growing out of its bedroom community status. "I think one of the things that you see happening in Derby is that we are basically in a transition phase," he says. "We are becoming a destination community which basically means that a lot of the servicesWesley Healthcare Opens Emergency Department In Derbyhttp://kmuw.org/post/wesley-healthcare-opens-emergency-department-derby
76421 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 05 Dec 2016 23:04:42 +0000Wesley Healthcare Opens Emergency Department In DerbyDeborah ShaarA new Community Health Improvement Plan for Sedgwick County will be implemented in January. The Community Health Improvement Plan, or CHIP, provides a list of long-term strategies to address priority health issues in the community. Health concerns such as infant mortality and access to clinical care were identified through a countywide assessment. Becky Tuttle, chairwoman of Health Alliance, says the plan will help guide public health policies and actions over the next three years. "We tried to take steps to make sure that when we were developing the Community Health Improvement Plan, we engaged as many partners as we could so that we could identify what was already happening and how we could continue to support and develop that work," Tuttle says. "In some cases, it is new work and things that we haven’t really addressed before." Dozens of health advocates met over the past nine months to analyze health data and develop the plan. "Some things we did identify. Diabetes and obesitySedgwick County Community Health Improvement Plan Is Readyhttp://kmuw.org/post/sedgwick-county-community-health-improvement-plan-ready
76277 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 02 Dec 2016 12:00:00 +0000Sedgwick County Community Health Improvement Plan Is ReadyIt isn’t far from the gleaming bank buildings and high-end hotels to the rent-to-own stores and corner shops that stock more chips than fruit. A visitor getting off the highway in downtown Kansas City, Kansas, would pass by a Hilton Garden Inn and several high-rise buildings bearing the names of financial companies. But a few blocks across the Seventh Street Trafficway, the storefronts become more worn down and the food options narrow to McDonald’s and the One Stop Shop, where the only vegetables are jarred tomato sauce and canned jalapenos. To the east of Seventh Street, the average resident dies around age 72, according to a new study of health disparities in Wyandotte County . Cross the street, however, and that average drops to 59. The next-closest community where most people live into their 70s is west of Interstate 635, about four miles away. Wyandotte County consistently ranks near the bottom of Kansas counties on health outcomes, despite sharing a border with Johnson County ,Study Delves Into Wyandotte County Health Dividehttp://kmuw.org/post/study-delves-wyandotte-county-health-divide
76157 as http://kmuw.orgTue, 29 Nov 2016 18:44:32 +0000Study Delves Into Wyandotte County Health Divide